Foundation earth anchor

ABSTRACT

Apparatus embedded in the ground and forming a shock absorbing foundation for an aboveground structure. The apparatus includes a plurality of extendable and retractable earth-engaging wings that form a foundation for a structure which resists earthquake tremors.

United States Patent [191 Ballew [45 Apr. 16, 1974 FOUNDATION EARTH ANCHOR [76] Inventor: Julius R. Ballew, PO. Box 1716,

Seminole, Tex. 79360 221 Filed: Aug. 8, 1973 21 Appl. NO.: 386,800

52 us. c1..' s2/161, 52/162 [51] Int. Cl E02d 5/80 [58] Field of Search 52/160-164, 52/294 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS l,0l5,6ll

1 1912 Bowen 52/161 Handel 52/161 2,315,339 3/1943 Klein 2,490,465 12/ 1949 Ogburn 2,576,412 11/1951 Ogburn 52/161 Primary Examiner-John E. Murtagh Attorney, Agent, or Firm-A. Yates Dowell, Jr.

57 ABSTRACT Apparatus embedded in the ground and forming a shock absorbing foundation for an aboveground structure. The apparatus includes a plurality of extendable and retractable earth-engaging wings that form a foundation for a structure which resists earthquake tremors. I

4 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures 1 FOUNDATION EARTH ANCHOR BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention.

This invention relates generally to building structures of various kinds and relates particularly to foundations for aboveground structures which can be easily applied and which resist the destructive tremors of earthquakes.

2. Description of the Prior Art I-Ieretofore substantially all buildings and other abovegroundstructures have required a foundation located below the surface of the ground and the depth of the foundation has been in direct proportion to the height of the structure aboveground. Substantially all of the foundations have been constructed of reinforced concrete or other hardenable plastic material to withstand the forces of nature, such as wind and the like acting on the exposed aboveground portion of the structure.

In many areas of the world, particularly around the perimeter of the Pacific Ocean and in portions of the Middle East and Africa, earth tremors are prevalent with as many as to measurable tremors per day being recorded. lnithese areas the tremors introduce stresses in the concrete foundations of various structures and when the tremors attain sufficient magnitude, the stress on the foundations becomes excessive and causes the foundations to deteriorate and crack which permits the aboveground structure to collapse.

In some relatively small aboveground structures, such as houses, mobile homes, radio transmission towers and the like, earth anchors have been provided to assist in resisting the forces of nature and some of these earth anchors have included expandable blades or wings which could be-inserted in a bore hole and then expanded into engagement with the firm earth surrounding the bore hole. Substantially all of these earth anchors have been relatively small and have included SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention is a relatively large expandable earth anchor having a plurality of expandable wings adapted to be received in firm earth below the base of an aboveground structure and such wings are connected to an anchor rod the upper end of which is adapted to be embedded within the base of the aboveground structure to form a foundation anchor. The foundation anchor not only resists an upward force caused by high winds and other forces of nature, but also absorbs earth tremors and thereby resists damage and collapse of the aboveground structure.

It is an object of the invention to provide a large foundation anchor for an aboveground structure which not only resists lateral forces of nature on the aboveground structure such as wind and the like, but also tends to absorb earth tremors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevation illustrating one application of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the structure of FIG. 1 in collapsed condition.

FIG. 3 is a section on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a section on the line 4-4 of FIG. 2.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With continued reference to the drawing, a base 10 is provided for a relatively large structure such as a house, road overpass, bridge, or the like. Before the base is constructed, a plurality of bore holes, indicated by phantom lines 11 in FIG. 1, are dug in the ground and a relatively large earth anchor 12 in collapsed condition, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is placed in each of the bore holes and then is expanded to the position illustrated in FIG. 1. I

Each earth anchor includes an elongated rod 15 having a cross member 16 welded or otherwise attached to one end. The opposite end of the rod 15 has external threads 17 which engage a threaded member 18, such as a nut or enlargement formed integrally with or permanently attached to a base plate 19. The base plate 19 is generally square and each side of such base plate is provided with a generally U-shaped guide member 20. Each of the guidge members includes a pair of generally parallel legs 21 connected at one end by a bight portion 22 which is spaced a predetermined distance from the base plate 19. It is noted that the guide members 20 could be formed integrally with the base plate 19 or could be formed separately and welded or otherwise permanently attached thereto.

Spaced upwardly from the base plate 19, a body 25 is provided having an axial bore 26 of a size slightly larger than the diameter of the rod 15 so that the body 25 is freely rotatably mounted on such rod. The body 25 is provided with a plurality of pairs of downwardly extending lugs 27 with one pair of lugs being provided in alignment with each of the U-shaped guide members 20 of the base plate 19. Each pair of lugs 27 has a hinge pin 28 extending between the same and each of such hinge pins is adapted to swingably support an elongated generally arcuate wing 29-which normally is at least four feet long.

The outer portion 30 of each of the wings 29 is relatively broad and flat, while the inner portion 31 tapers inwardly and terminates in a sleeve 32 which is freely mounted on the hinge pin 28. The inner portion 31 of each wing is provided with a pair of outwardly extending tapered flanges 33 to give strength and rigidity thereto. The larger end of each of the flanges 33 is located adjacent to the sleeve 32 and is of a height greater than the distance between the base plate 19 and the bight portion 22 of the guide members 20.

The wings 29 extend through the U-shaped guide members 20 of the base plate. In order to prevent separation of the wings from the base plate when the apparatus is in retracted position, a stop 34 is welded or otherwise attached to the upper surface of each wing 29 and such stops are adapted to engage inwardly extending 'pins 35 fixed to the bight portions 22 of each of the guide members 20 (FIG. 2).

A relatively large flat circular pressure plate 36 having an axial bore 37 is located adjacent to the body 25 at the side opposite the lugs 27 and if desired such pressure plate could be connected to the body 25 in any desired manner, as by welding or the like. In order to maintain the body 25 and the pressure plate 36 in a substantially fixed location along the length of the rod 15, an upper collar 40 is located above the pressure plate 36 and is fixed to the rod 15 in any desired manner, as by a set screw, pin or the like 41, or such collar could be welded to the rod 15. A lower collar 42 is located below the body 25 and spaced slightly therefrom to limit vertical movement of the body 25 and the pressure plate 36 while permitting relatively free rotation thereof. The lower collar 42 is fixed to the rod 15 in any desired manner, as by a lock pin, set screw, or the like 43.

In the operation of the device, a plurality of bore holes 11 are provided in the earth after which an earth anchor 12 in retracted position, as illustrated in FIG. 2, is inserted in each of the bore holes. When the anchor reaches a predetermined position within the bore hole, the rod 15 is rotated by twisting the cross member 16 in a direction to cause the threaded member 18 of the base plate to move the rod 15 downwardly. Downward movement of the rod causes the body 25 to move toward the base plate 19 and extend the wings 29 through the guide members 20. Due to the curvature of the wings, the outer portions of such wings are moved outwardly so that they penetrate the firm earth at the sides of the bore hole.

Downward movement of the body 25 continues until the inner portions of the wings 29 engage the base plate 19 and the flanges 33 engage the bight portions 22 of the guide members and prevent further downward movement of the body 25. Thereafter, the bore holes are filled with the earth which was removed therefrom and such earth is tamped and packed in as firmly as possible so that the pressure plate 36 as well as the wings 29 resist upward movement of the anchor. In this position the upper end of the rod and the cross member 16 project outwardly of the surface of the earth so that when the base 10 is poured the cross member 16 and the upper portion of the rod 15 are embedded within such base. In the event of an earth tremor or an earthquake, the anchor 12 absorbs a substantial portion of the vibrations while the wings 29 remain firmly embedded in the earth.

I claim:

l. A foundation anchor for an aboveground structure comprising an elongated generally vertically disposed rod, a cross member fixed to one end of said rod and the opposite end of said rod being threaded, a base plate threadedly engaging the opposite end of said rod, a plurality of guides carried by said base plate, an inwardly extending pin fixed to the outer portion of at least one of said guides, a first collar mounted on said rod intermediate the ends thereof, a second collar attached to said rod in spaced relationship with said first collar, a body freely rotatably mounted on said rod between said first and second collars, said body having a plurality of hinge pins with one hinge pin being substantially in alignment with each of said guides, a large outwardly curved wing swingably mounted on each hinge pin and extending through an aligned guide, at least one of said wings having stop means engageable with said inwardly extending pin when said wings are retracted, at least one-of said wings having a tapered flange of a size to be wedged between said base plate and said guide when said wings are extended, a pressure plate freely rotatably mounted on said rod adjacent to said body, and said rod being of a length to extend above the surface of the earth, so that said cross member at one end of said rod is embedded in the foundation of a building.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said guides includes a pair of generally parallel legs connected at one end to said base plate and connected at the opposite end to a bight portion and forming a generally U-shaped guide.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said hinge pins is mounted in a pair of downwardly extending lugs.

4. A foundation anchor for an aboveground structure comprising an elongated generally vertically disposed rod, a cross member fixed to one end of said rod and the opposite end of said rod having external threads, a base plate having portions threadedly engaging the opposite end of said rod, the upper portion of said base plate being substantially square, a substantially U- shaped guide member connected to each side of said base plate, each guide member including a pair of generally parallel legs connected by a bight portion substantially parallel with said base plate, a pin fixed to each of said bight portions and extending inwardly toward said base plate, an upper collar fixed to said rod between the opposite ends thereof, a lower collar fixed to said rod in spaced relationship to said upper collar, a body having a central axial bore freely rotatably mounted on said rod between said upper and lower collars, said body having a plurality of pairs of lug means mounted thereon and extending downwardly toward said base plate, each pair of lug means having a hinge pin spaced from said rod a distance less than the width of said base plate, a relatively large outwardly curved wing swingably mounted on each of said hinge pins and having portions extending through said U-shaped guide members, the outer portion of each of said wings having a stop engageable with the pins carried by said guide members when said wings are retracted, the inner end of each of said wings having at least one tapered flange with the large end located adjacent to said hinge pin, the large end of said flange having a height greater than said guide members so that said flange is wedged between said base plate and the bight portion of said guide members when the wings are extended, a pressure plate freely rotatably mounted on said rod and located between said upper collar and said body, and said rod being of a length to extend above the surface of the earth when applied so that the upper end of the rod and said cross member are embedded in the foundation of a building. 

1. A foundation anchor for an aboveground structure comprising an elongated generally vertically disposed rod, a cross member fixed to one end of said rod and the opposite end of said rod being threaded, a base plate threadedly engaging the opposite end of said rod, a plurality of guides carried by said base plate, an inwardly extending pin fixed to the outer portion of at least one of said guides, a first collar mounted on said rod intermediate the ends thereof, a second collar attached to said rod in spaced relationship with said first collar, a body freely rotatably mounted on said rod between said first and second collars, said body having a plurality of hinge pins with one hinge pin being substantially in alignment with each of said guides, a large outwardly curved wing swingably mounted on each hinge pin and extending through an aligned guide, at least one of said wings having stop means engageable with said inwardly extending pin when said wings are retracted, at least one of said wings having a tapered flange of a size to be wedged between said base plate and said guide when said wings are extended, a pressure plate freely rotatably mounted on said rod adjacent to said body, and said rod being of a length to extend above the surface of the earth, so that said cross member at one end of said rod is embedded in the foundation of a building.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said guides includes a pair of generally parallel legs connected at one end to said base plate and connected at the opposite end to a bight portion and forming a generally U-shaped guide.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which each of said hinge pins is mounted in a pair of downwardly extending lugs.
 4. A foundation anchor for an aboveground structure comprising an elongated generally vertically disposed rod, a cross member fixed to one end of said rod and the opposite end of said rod having external threads, a base plate having portions threadedly engaging the opposite end of said rod, the upper portion of said base plate being substantially square, a substantially U-shaped guide member connected to each side of said base plate, each guide member including a pair of generally parallel legs connected by a bight portion substantially parallel with said base plate, a pin fixed to each of said bight portions and extending inwardly toward said base plate, an upper collar fixed to said rod between the opposite Ends thereof, a lower collar fixed to said rod in spaced relationship to said upper collar, a body having a central axial bore freely rotatably mounted on said rod between said upper and lower collars, said body having a plurality of pairs of lug means mounted thereon and extending downwardly toward said base plate, each pair of lug means having a hinge pin spaced from said rod a distance less than the width of said base plate, a relatively large outwardly curved wing swingably mounted on each of said hinge pins and having portions extending through said U-shaped guide members, the outer portion of each of said wings having a stop engageable with the pins carried by said guide members when said wings are retracted, the inner end of each of said wings having at least one tapered flange with the large end located adjacent to said hinge pin, the large end of said flange having a height greater than said guide members so that said flange is wedged between said base plate and the bight portion of said guide members when the wings are extended, a pressure plate freely rotatably mounted on said rod and located between said upper collar and said body, and said rod being of a length to extend above the surface of the earth when applied so that the upper end of the rod and said cross member are embedded in the foundation of a building. 